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Personal Services
Salary data, career paths, top colleges, and every specialization, all sourced from College Scorecard, IPEDS, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About Personal Services
Cosmetology, culinary arts, funeral service, and personal training — client-facing trade programs with strong self-employment potential and fast paths to certification. Graduates earn a national median of $47,668 four years after completing their degree, per College Scorecard data. The field is offered at 2,079 colleges and universities across the United States. Approximately 157,937 students complete degrees in this area each year.
- Median Earnings · 1yr
- $33,231
- Median Earnings · 4yr
- $47,668
- Colleges Offering
- 2,079
- Graduates / Year
- 157,937
- Specializations
- 2
- Avg Net Price / yr
- $18,237
Is a Personal Services Degree Right for You?
$47,668
Median earnings · 4yr
+6.5%
10yr job growth
2
Specializations
Is the Investment Worth It?
Breaks even in
~4.1
yrs
vs $30K/yr baseline wage
At median 4-year earnings of $47,668 and an estimated $72,948 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 4.1 years. Compare your specific program carefully.
ROI varies significantly by specialization and institution. A top program in a high-demand specialization can return many multiples of its cost. A lower-tier program in a saturated field may take a decade to break even. Use the Specializations and Best Colleges sections above to compare your specific options before deciding.
How Much Do Personal Services Majors Earn?
Personal Services graduates start at a median $33,231 one year out and reach $47,668 four years later. Both figures are national medians from College Scorecard, measured across all 2,079 US institutions offering programs in this field.
$33,231
1 Year After Graduation
Median at the institutional level. Entry-level salaries; reflects career start, not peak earnings.
$47,668
4-Year National Median
Enrollment-weighted national median across all institutions. Most graduates have 2-3 years of career experience at this point.
$52,058
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size. Closer to what a typical school's graduates earn.
Earnings Range Across Specializations
Not all Personal Services specializations pay the same. The most lucrative programs pay $60,056/yr nationally, while the lowest-earning specializations average $47,668/yr. See the Specializations section below for a program-by-program breakdown.
$47,668
Lowest
$47,668
Median
$60,056
Highest
What Can You Do With a Personal Services Degree?
Career Paths for Personal Services Graduates
Personal Services connects to 8 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, spanning entry-level and senior roles. Food Scientists and Technologists leads in median earnings at $88,720/yr. Each row includes national wages, employment levels, and 10-year growth projections.
Food Scientists and Technologists
Bachelor's degree
$88,720
↗ +6.5% growth
Funeral Service Manager
Associate's degree
$78,790
↗ +4.1% growth
Chefs and Head Cooks
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,470
↗ +7.1% growth
Morticians & Undertakers
Associate's degree
$55,010
↗ +3.1% growth
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,590
↗ +6.7% growth
Skincare Specialists
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,330
↗ +6.7% growth
Barbers
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,210
↗ +4.1% growth
Hairdressers & Cosmetologists
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,790
↗ +5.6% growth
Personal Services Specializations
Personal Services spans 5 specializations with relatively consistent earnings, from $47,668 to $60,056 at the four-year mark, per College Scorecard. Each row links to a full program profile with institution counts and annual completion data.
Specialization
Colleges
Grads/yr
Earnings · 4yr
Best Colleges for Personal Services
The 20 colleges below are ranked by Personal Services graduate volume, how many students completed this degree in the last reporting year. All data points shown (acceptance rate, net price, earnings, grad rate) come from College Scorecard and IPEDS.
1
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder
Boulder, CO · For-Profit
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$13,367
Earnings 10yr
$32,001
Grad rate
76%
2
Culinary Institute of America
Hyde Park, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
91.2%
Net price/yr
$36,113
Earnings 10yr
$47,475
Grad rate
66%
3
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
Providence, RI · Nonprofit
Acceptance
88.4%
Net price/yr
$31,027
Earnings 10yr
$43,418
Grad rate
58%
4
Douglas J Aveda Institute
East Lansing, MI · For-Profit
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$25,357
Earnings 10yr
$26,849
Grad rate
68%
5
Sheridan Technical College
Hollywood, FL · Public
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$6,677
Earnings 10yr
$33,166
Grad rate
57%
6
Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Los Angeles, CA · Public
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$12,323
Earnings 10yr
$35,233
Grad rate
11%
7
Manatee Technical College
Bradenton, FL · Public
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$1,808
Earnings 10yr
$38,129
Grad rate
66%
8
Bellus Academy-Poway
Poway, CA · For-Profit
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$32,767
Earnings 10yr
$25,223
Grad rate
81%
9
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin
Austin, TX · For-Profit
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$19,564
Earnings 10yr
$36,330
Grad rate
63%
10
Hinds Community College
Raymond, MS · Public
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$4,060
Earnings 10yr
$30,774
Grad rate
22%
11
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Nonprofit
Acceptance
79.9%
Net price/yr
$27,426
Earnings 10yr
$43,418
Grad rate
58%
12
MTI College
Sacramento, CA · For-Profit
Acceptance
63.4%
Net price/yr
$21,740
Earnings 10yr
$45,328
Grad rate
68%
13
Riverside City College
Riverside, CA · Public
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$8,377
Earnings 10yr
$41,091
Grad rate
11%
14
American Educational College
Bayamon, PR · For-Profit
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$7,859
Earnings 10yr
$17,172
Grad rate
42%
15
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Perkinston, MS · Public
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$6,962
Earnings 10yr
$33,017
Grad rate
25%
16
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton
Dayton, OH · For-Profit
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$12,258
Earnings 10yr
$22,271
Grad rate
59%
17
Bellus Academy-Chula Vista
Chula Vista, CA · For-Profit
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$20,738
Earnings 10yr
$23,576
Grad rate
74%
18
Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service
Houston, TX · Nonprofit
Acceptance
86.4%
Net price/yr
$44,047
Earnings 10yr
$37,786
Grad rate
74%
19
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee, WI · Public
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$9,112
Earnings 10yr
$41,113
Grad rate
14%
20
Institute of Technology
Clovis, CA · For-Profit
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$23,159
Earnings 10yr
$35,095
Grad rate
65%
Ranked by number of Personal Services graduates per IPEDS completion data. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate from College Scorecard. Read our methodology →
How Personal Services Compares to Similar Majors
Major
$30k
$40k
$50k
$60k
$70k
$80k
$90k
$100k
Plan Your Path
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Personal Services degree, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if a Personal Services degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Personal Services Degree: Pros & Cons
Personal Services carries financial trade-offs that prospective students should weigh carefully before committing. The 3 strengths and 2 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
- Positive job outlook Related careers project up to +7.1% job growth over the next decade per BLS data.
- Wide availability Offered at 2,079 colleges nationwide, including community colleges and online programs.
- Strong salary growth Median salary grows from $33,231 at graduation to $47,668 four years later, indicating solid career momentum.
CONS
- Modest median earnings Four-year median of $47,668 lags behind many STEM and business fields, which can affect ROI at higher-cost programs.
- Highly competitive job market Approximately 157,937 students graduate in this field each year, one of the highest volumes among all majors.
Personal Services Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Personal Services graduates earn?
Personal Services graduates earn a national median of $47,668 four years after completing their degree, per College Scorecard data. Earnings vary significantly by specialization, institution, and region. Use the specializations table on this page to compare programs.
What is the starting salary for a Personal Services degree?
The median earnings one year after graduation for Personal Services degree holders is $33,231 at the institutional level, per College Scorecard. Starting salaries vary by employer, location, and specific specialization within the field.
What jobs can you get with a Personal Services degree?
Personal Services degree holders work in a range of careers. Food Scientists and Technologists is one of the top roles by median wage ($88,720/yr nationally per BLS data). See the Career Paths section on this page for a full breakdown of related occupations, employment levels, and 10-year growth projections.
How many colleges offer Personal Services?
2,079 colleges and universities in the United States offer programs in Personal Services, per IPEDS data. Options range from community colleges offering associate degrees to research universities with doctoral programs. The Best Colleges section on this page ranks the top institutions by graduation volume.
Is a Personal Services degree worth it?
At a median 4-year earnings of $47,668 and an average net price of roughly $18,237/yr across institutions offering this major, a Personal Services degree can deliver strong returns, particularly in high-earning specializations. The ROI depends heavily on which institution and specialization you choose.
How long does it take to earn a Personal Services degree?
Personal Services programs range from two-year associate degrees to four-year bachelor's programs. Many students also enter through apprenticeships, which can provide an accelerated path into the field.
What skills do employers look for in Personal Services graduates?
Employers hiring Personal Services graduates consistently prioritize technical proficiency, safety compliance, hands-on problem-solving, and equipment operation. Certifications, apprenticeships, and demonstrated practical experience typically carry as much weight as academic credentials in this field.
What is the 10-year job outlook for Personal Services graduates?
Based on BLS projections, the job outlook for Personal Services graduates is moderate, with an average of +5.5% projected growth across related occupations. Chefs and Head Cooks is among the strongest-growth roles at +7.1%. Demand will vary by specialization, employer sector, and geographic region.
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-
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